2026 Georgia March Special Election

Register to vote

Check my registration

Request a ballot

Find my polling place

Find my early voting site

NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Blake Elsberry and his wife, Lauren, have two children together. He is a member of the Gideons and attends church regularly.

Only 4 Candidates In Race Thus Far To Gain Georgia District 53 ...

LinkedIn

Blake Elsberry earned an associate's degree in invasive cardiovascular technology from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. He has two children with his wife, Lauren. He is a member of the Gideons and attends church regularly.

Blake currently works as a regional director for his company. He previously worked as a cardiovascular technologist and personal trainer at Floyd Hospital.

Blake previously served as a Chattooga County Commissioner.

Former Commissioner Blake Elsberry Announces Bid for State Senate

Blake previously served as a Chattooga County Commissioner. He served one term from 2020 to 2024.

Supports eliminating the state income tax and reducing financial burdens on families.

Supports eliminating the state income tax.

Said he supports "[p]roperty tax reform, ending the tax on unrealized gains."

Supports "doing away with unnecessary regulations [on farmers] and banning the sale of lab grown beef and milk in Georgia."

- Supports eliminating the state income tax.
- Said he supports "[p]roperty tax reform, ending the tax on unrealized gains."
- Supports "doing away with unnecessary regulations [on farmers] and banning the sale of lab grown beef and milk in Georgia."

Economy

As of February 6, 2026, Blake Elsberry’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Prioritizes improving rural healthcare access and supporting farmers.

- Prioritizes improving rural healthcare access and supporting farmers.

Healthcare

Supports "[e]nsuring Georgia has accurate, secure, and trustworthy elections every time."

- Supports "[e]nsuring Georgia has accurate, secure, and trustworthy elections every time."

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Supports increased funding for public schools, viewing it as an investment in the community and the future of children.

- Supports increased funding for public schools, viewing it as an investment in the community and the future of children.

Education

Facebook

Twitter

Blake Elsberry

Linkedin

Denise Pierce Burns is from Catoosa County. She has a bachelor's degree in food service management from Berry College. She has four children with her husband.

Denise currently works as an insurance agent for AFLAC. She previously worked as a business development manager for Sweet Street Desserts and in management at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta.

Denise Pierce Burns's campaign for Georgia State Senator, District 53 is her first entry into politics.

Denise Burns - Ballotpedia

Denise's campaign for state senator for Georgia Senate District 53 is her first run for public office.

Supports expanding access for small producers, including raw milk, and rolling back regulations that punish family farms while benefiting large corporations.

Supports expanding access for small producers, including raw milk, and reducing farm regulations.

Supports responsible budgeting and transparency to address rising costs impacting families, seniors, and farmers.

Supports responsible budgeting and transparency.

- Supports expanding access for small producers, including raw milk, and reducing farm regulations.
- Supports reducing government regulation.
- Supports responsible budgeting and transparency.

As of February 6, 2026, Denise Pierce Burns’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes government mandates in healthcare decisions.

Opposes mandates in healthcare decisions.

- Opposes access to abortion.
- Opposes mandates in healthcare decisions.

Supports "strengthening cooperation between local law enforcement and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]."

- Opposes gun control.
- Supports "strengthening cooperation between local law enforcement and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]."

Programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

- Programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

Instagram

Denise Pierce Burns

Jack is a media history teacher. He teaches about the First Amendment and free speech. He previously worked as a journalist for many years.

Jack Bentley (Jack) Zibluk is a media history teacher. He previously worked as a journalist for many years.

John Bentley (Jack) Zibluk previously ran for the Georgia House of Representatives against state Representative Mike Cameron but did not win.

Qualifying Underway for Georgia Senate District 53 Special Election

John previously ran for the Georgia House of Representatives against state Representative Mike Cameron but did not win.

Plans to coordinate regional economic development efforts.

- Plans to coordinate regional economic development efforts.

Supports local control of state roads to enhance public safety.

- Supports local control of state roads to enhance public safety.

Supports greater access to and support for mental health facilities.

- Supports greater access to and support for mental health facilities.

As of February 6, 2026, John Bentley (Jack) Zibluk’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Staunch defender of free speech and open inquiry in schools and universities.

- Staunch defender of free speech and open inquiry in schools and universities.

John Bentley (Jack) Zibluk

Lanny is from Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He attended LaFayette High School. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from West Georgia College. He also has a master’s degree in Education and an Education Specialist degree from Jacksonville State University. He lives with his wife, Chrysan Ramsey Thomas, and their four sons in Trion. He attends a local church.

Former Trion Mayor, Lanny Thomas seeking State Senatorial Seat

Lanny Thomas is from Fort Oglethorpe. He has a bachelor's degree in Education from West Georgia College and a master’s degree in education from Jacksonville State University. He lives with his wife, Chrysan, in Trion. They have four sons. 

Lanny is a part-time teacher at Trion City Schools, where he has worked since retiring from his 25-year full-time teaching career last year. He previously taught at Pennville Elementary School, coached at Chattooga High School, and taught at LaFayette High School.

Lanny is currently a part-time teacher at Trion City Schools. He previously taught at Pennville Elementary School, coached at Chattooga High School, and at LaFayette High School.

Lanny Thomas is a former mayor of the Town of Trion. He first ran for the office of mayor in 2000, won the election and served four years before stepping down. He returned to serve the people of Trion as a council member four years later.

Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas Announces Bid for State Senate District 53

Lanny is a former mayor of the Town of Trion. He ran for the office of mayor in 2000 and served four years before stepping down. He briefly served again from 2022 to 2026. He returned to serve as a council member in 2004. He also ran for Georgia State Senate in the 53rd District, but did not win. 

Supports small businesses, protects local jobs, and aims to bring new opportunities to rural communities.

Supports small businesses and wants to bring new job opportunities to rural communities.

Supports stopping runaway government growth and ensuring tax dollars are used wisely.

Supports working with the Agriculture Commissioner to protect farmers in the region.

- Supports small businesses and wants to bring new job opportunities to rural communities.
- Supports stopping runaway government growth and ensuring tax dollars are used wisely.
- Supports working with the Agriculture Commissioner to protect farmers in the region.

As of February 6, 2026, Lanny Thomas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to improve healthcare access in rural communities.

- Wants to improve healthcare access in rural communities.

Commits to being responsive to constituents and serving the people of the 53rd district.

Promises to be responsive to constituents and the people of the 53rd district by responding to all calls, texts, and emails. 

- Promises to be responsive to constituents and the people of the 53rd district by responding to all calls, texts, and emails. 

Supports providing law enforcement with the tools needed to keep communities safe.

- Supports providing law enforcement with the tools needed to keep communities safe.

Supports policies that empower teachers and strengthen local schools.

- Supports policies that empower teachers and strengthen local schools.

Lanny Thomas

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Georgia Senate

Georgia State Senator, District 53

Candidates (4)